Officials take animals from Lawrence County home

Eight skinny dogs with ribs showing and hipbones jutting were seized on Friday by the Mahoning Township Police Department, along with six cats and one lizard. They had been living at a home on Marr Road in Lawrence County.

The dogs appeared to be pit bulls and boxers.

“Numerous animals” were “found in unfit living conditions,”

said township Patrolman Scott Hedland, in the department’s press release. “The animals were voluntarily surrendered” by the owners “and charges are pending at this time against the owners of the animals.”

The heading on the press release said “animal neglect” although the exact charges to be filed were not specified.

Mahoning Township officers assisted Wendi Wiegand, humane officer for the Lawrence County Humane Society, on the search and seizure. A spokesman there said the animals would not be taken to the shelter in New Castle.

Officer Hedland would not say where the animals were being taken, but he said they would be well cared for.

On Friday a man who identified himself as Cody Siders answered the phone at the Marr Road residence, where people witnessed animals being removed from the residence.

“They were filming it,” said Mr. Siders, who said he did not know who was doing the filming, but he said he wants a copy of the film.

“As of right now I cannot talk to you,” he told a reporter. “I am talking to an attorney. I will be glad to talk to you when this is over.”

The case has attracted the attention of PETA — People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals.

Kristin Rickman, manager of PETA’s emergency response division of the cruelty investigations department, would not say who tipped the organization about the condition of the animals.

“We deal with cruelty complaints,” Ms. Rickman said. The identity of the person who reported the situation “is confidential.”

Ms. Rickman has not been to Lawrence County but said she recently sent letters to police officers and the humane society, voicing concern. “We apply pressure to get them to investigate,” she said.

Ingrid Newkirk, who founded PETA in 1980, started her career work with animals as a “humane officer,” Ms. Rickman said. Humane officers investigate and prosecute cases of animal abuse and neglect.